Today I spoke with John Blaxland and Qinduo Xu. John is an outspoken commentator and researcher on topics such as Australian military history and strategy, public policy, security, defence, and international relations. Qinduo Xu is a political analyst who frequently contributes to international media outlets on China’s rise and its interactions with the rest of the world. We discussed roots of the AUKUS partnership, difference in Australian and Chinese perspectives, China’s economic and military growth, COVID-19, Double standards, lack of transparency, projection of strength, culture and many other topics.
You can follow John and Qinduo on their respective Twitter accounts @JohnBlaxland1 and @xuqinduo.
I briefly mentioned an article I recently published on the state of Western democracy, grey zone warfare by authoritarian states and the dangers of social media. You can view the article here.
---
Full show notes
My guests today are John Blaxland and Qinduo Xu. My audience might already be familiar with John Blaxland, who’s previously been on the show. He is a Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies and former Head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University.
Prior to his academic pursuits, John enjoyed an extensive career as an Intelligence Officer in the Australian Army including as the principal intelligence staff officer for the Australian contingent deployed to East Timor in 1999, as the Director Joint Intelligence Operations at Headquarters Joint Operations Command and as Australia’s Defence Attaché to Thailand and Myanmar. John is an outspoken commentator and researcher on topics such as Australian military history and strategy, public policy, security, defence and international relations.
Qinduo Xu hosts Dialogue Weekend at China Global Television Network (CGTN), a talk show that offers in-depth analyses of current affairs. He also works as a producer of the TODAY show at China Radio International. As a political analyst who follows Chinese foreign policy closely, Qinduo frequently contributes to international media outlets such as The New York Times, Press TV, NPR, Turkey’s TRT, ABC, RT, and others.
Qinduo majored in both English and international studies. His focus of research has been on China’s rise and its interactions with the rest of the world. Qinduo has spent years in the US as the chief correspondent for China Radio International and one year in Australia as a visiting scholar at the University of Melbourne. He is a Senior Fellow at the Pangoal Institution and an Adjunct Professor at Renmin University of China.
Some of the topics we covered are:
111. Lest We Forget: Our Duty Is Not To The People with David McBride
110. 🎙 AI's Impact on Massive Death Toll in Gaza with Meron Rapoport
109. Chris Gunness: Israel's Opposition to UNRWA and the Campaign to Delegitimise the Organisation
108. Return of The Voices Of War
107. 2023 Wrap-Up: A Year of Insight and Inquiry
106. Jason Pack – Aspirations of Peace in the Middle East: A Deep Dive into Regional Dynamics and the Global Enduring Disorder
105. Professor Greg Barton - Terrorism, Jihadism, and Violent Extremism: Exploring the Roots and Impacts of Radicalisation
104. Nadim Shehadi – Beyond Gaza: Unpacking the Middle East’s Entrenched Conflicts and Power Dynamics
103. Dr David Livingstone Smith - Dehumanisation in the Israel-Palestine War and its consequences
102. Special Release: Chris Gunness - Scratching Beneath the Complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
101. Professor Rashid Khalidi - Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: An Exploration of Root Causes and Geopolitical Dynamics
100. Carl Miller - The AI Revolution: Exploring its Ethical, Social, and Political Ramifications
99. Special Release: Vlad Sakovich - The View from Russia: An In-Depth Conversation on Anti-War Activism under Putin’s Regime
98. Dr. Jonathan French Flint - Navigating the Ethical Maze of War: On Strategic Theory and Military Ethics
97. Yousuf Sediq – The War in Afghanistan: Exploring its Complexities, Absurdities, and Challenges with an Afghan Special Forces Commander
96. LTC Kevin Cutright - Empathy Unleashed: Transforming Military Decision-Making and Operational Effectiveness
95. Heidi Langbein-Allen - From Propaganda to Desperation: Understanding Nazi Indoctrination of German Youth in Hitler’s Army
94. Special Release: Dr Mike Martin - Cracks in Putin’s Autocracy: Dissent, Mutiny, and Shifting Tides
93. Dr Neil Greenberg - Battlefield Minds: Understanding the Complexities of Military Mental Health
92. Hasan Aygun - Turkish Elections Unveiled: Erdogan’s Rise to Power, Dimming of Democracy, and Geopolitical Ramifications
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Voices of Misery Podcast
House of Whimsical Terror
Dairyland Frights
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL